This year, Harbor Fest takes place around Labor Day in September and lasts for a full 10 days, but the party is starting early down at Boothbay Craft Brewery and Watershed Tavern.

The brewery kicked things off the Saturday before Memorial Day with a “Declaration of Fermentation” party, with a beer tasting, regular lunch menu, caricature artist and games for kids and adults.

One of the games was designing a label for this year's Harbor Fest Ale.

“We've brewed a Harbor Fest Ale for the last two years,” co-owner Win Mitchell said. “This year, we wanted to have it on tap and in stores all summer long to promote Harbor Fest and encourage people who visit to plan on coming back in the fall.”

So the Boothbay Craft Brewery will have the Harbor Fest ale ready around mid-June, and according to Mitchell it will be a light, summer ale with a lower alcohol content and some orange zest.

“It's easy drinking, goes great with a lobster dinner,” Mitchell said.

Several kids and adults designed ideas for the cans on Saturday with ideas ranging from a can with a lighthouse on it to a gem-covered “Sparkle Ale.”

The beer will be on tap all summer at the brewery, and sold in local stores such as Oak Street Provisions and the Southport General Store. Mitchell said he might take a few cans down to Portland to promote the event.

Also at the event was Lori Reynolds, the Harbor Fest coordinator. A large display was set up outside the brewery, which included the grand-prize winning “Fishin' for Fashion” dress from last year. Reynolds talked to people about Harbor Fest and talked about the new “Fun Card,” which will have multiple offers from business around the region that can be used all summer long.

“For a small fee any local business can offer a deal on the card,” Reynolds said. “And it can be anything they want. It can last for a specific weekend, or the whole summer. It's not just for restaurants either; we want to get lots of different area businesses involved.”

Just some of the deals available include half-price desserts all summer long at the brewery, 15 percent off wine at Capers all summer long, and 25 percent off appetizers at the Whale's Tale. The card will be updating all summer long as more deals are posted.

People can get cards by buying a ticket for a Harbor Fest event or for $10.

The events planned (so far) for Harbor Fest include a Fishin' for Fashion show, a “Stroke of Art” tour and a “Meet the Artist” brunch, a “Taste of Local Flavor” where restaurants will be showcasing signature dishes, a 5k race and half marathon, Restaurant Week, Harbor Crawl, a best band contest judged by WCLZ, and a cocktail competition using Cold River Blueberry Vodka.